Feeling Discontent?

What do you do when you experience a general sense of restlessness, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, a yearning for something more? Perhaps you can’t put your finger on why you’re discontent, not at peace, but you know you’re missing something. So we begin to search for it. Maybe it’s from a lack of fulfillment at work, or the stress of a troubled marriage, or never having enough money. Too often we then look in all the wrong places for something to fill our inner need for contentment. Some people look to food, while others look to alcohol or drugs. Or we look to another person, to our career, or to money and buying things to somehow make us feel good. But contentment is an attitude of deep satisfaction that has nothing to do with where you are or what you have. The only source that can fill that empty space is Jesus living inside us. 

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians to “not be anxious for anything,” which sounds good, but is it possible? Did you know that he was in a prison cell awaiting a trial that could end in a death sentence when he penned these famous words? Paul had a long list of serious reasons for anxiety, fear, and discontentment. Yet he gave a clear statement as to the antidote for anxiety: “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). He was saying, “My life is on the line, but my peace and joy don’t come from my circumstances. They come from the fact that God is with me. He is the source of my strength and peace.” 

When you’re feeling anxious and discontent, I encourage you to meditate on all the words of Philippians 4, and especially these words: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.” Paul learned the profound secret that contentment in his relationship with Christ is a powerful state of mind. He learned that because Christ was living in him, he could be full of peace, joy, and contentment even when alone in a prison cell. 

The writer of Proverbs says, “For the happy heart, life is a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15). Can I encourage you to feast on the fact that Christ Jesus lives inside you? He’s helping you through whatever you’re going through. It’s the “I can through Christ” that’s going to give you the contentment you are looking for!